Iraqi police slammed in report

August 31, 2007|By Julian E. Barnes Los Angeles Times and Information from The Washington Post was used in this report

WASHINGTON — Iraq's police forces will need a major overhaul to rid them of sectarian bias, according to an assessment of the Iraqi security forces to be released next week.

The report, commissioned by Congress and headed by retired Marine Gen. James L. Jones, gave relatively good marks to the Iraqi Army, saying that it has been well equipped and trained and is now conducting operations effectively.

But the assessment of the police forces was far more pessimistic. An administration official who has been briefed on the report's contents said it suggests starting over with the Iraqi National police, potentially creating a smaller, reconfigured force.

The Iraqi National Police, under the direct control of the Ministry of Interior, number about 25,000. The report does not recommend such a broad overhaul of the 325,000 local and provincial police.

The findings of the Iraqi Security Forces Independent Assessment Commission, known as the Jones report, comes as President Bush is receiving a series of appraisals from military advisers for his own assessment of progress in Iraq.

While acknowledging the problems with the Iraqi police, the Pentagon on Thursday rejected the Jones recommendation to disband the national police force. Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, said Iraqi and U.S. officials have been working together to retrain and rebuild units with problems, and noted that nine battalion commanders have been replaced.

The report is far more positive about the capabilities of the Iraqi Army, although it notes the force has logistical problems and problems receiving supplies.

Meanwhile, Pentagon officials have raised objections to a draft report by the Government Accountability Office, which found that three benchmarks had been achieved, two had been partially achieved and 13 had not been achieved. The Pentagon said the GAO reached the wrong conclusion on three benchmarks and asked that some of the assessment's failing grades on key political and security benchmarks be changed before the final report is made public next week, Morrell, the Defense spokesman, said.

Contrary to the GAO's findings, Pentagon officials say that the Iraqi government has supplied brigades for Baghdad security and has not prevented U.S. forces from entering particular neighborhoods or enclaves. The Pentagon also argues that the Iraqi government should receive a partial passing grade for reducing sectarianism in its military forces.

Information from The Washington Post was used in this report. The Los Angeles Times is a Tribune Co. newspaper.